Sudden Death as the Outcome of Cardiac Arrest, in a Portuguese Region: Where Do Resuscitation Manoeuvres Stand?

Rosa Henriques de Gouveia^1,2*, Adriana Martins², Duarte Nuno Vieira²

¹Forensic Pathology Department, Delega??o do Centro, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, Coimbra, Portugal.
²Medical Faculty, Coimbra University, Coimbra, Portugal.

DOI: 10.4236/wjcd.2015.58026                

Abstract

Cardiac Arrest (CA) is a major health problem, due to short and long-term sequel? and to associated mortality. Despite the improvement of out-of-hospital and in-hospital resuscitation manoeuvres, unexpected sudden fatal events occur. The authors reported the features of a series of sudden death (SD) cases where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed. Files of 1053 medico-legal autopsies, from victims aged ≥18 years-old, were reviewed. Cardiac Arrest leading to Sudden Death were found in 477 cases (45.3%), but only 199 (42%) of these had been submitted to resuscitation manoeuvres. There was an elderly male predominance. Both non-cardiac and cardiac CA/SD causes were present, despite the higher coronary artery disease incidence. Both out-of-hospital and in-hospital events took place. Age, severity of the disease, comorbidities and predominance of out-of-hospital CA were obstacles to successful CPR, leading to SD. Knowing the population characteristics may help to improve Emergency Assistance.

Keywords

Cardiac Arrest, Resuscitation Manoeuvres, Sudden Death, Portugal

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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